When do you know to give up with a horse?

Agree with spottedcat totally. I also think that her hormones are probably all over the place at the moment, so wouldn't make any rash decisions yet. Get over the spring first and then see how she is. Maybe talk to your vet about it.
 
And don't I know it - I could have cheerfully killed mine recently - hence the week off to give us both some perspective!

Mine is worse at home too - I think it's coz they feel secure so they push the boundaries a bit more! It is also to make instructors think we are bonkers when we describe this to them and the horse then behaves perfectly
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Plan 3 sounds like an expensive option...and not oen I have with a gelding!
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besides which, really I like the fact he has a bit of an opinion sometimes. As long as he keeps up the clears XC, I'll still love him
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The foal would not be to keep, but for sale... I would have its full brother who hopefully will turn into a nice yearling
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But I would much rather breed from her again then sell her or completely retire her because she loved being in foal and was an outstanding Mum
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I am going to start working her more out on hacks etc. I have been waiting until the nights get a bit lighter which they are doing now, so that should no longer be a problem
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And I will do some jump work with her, I have been putting it off because I am terrified of injuries after what happened to Grace
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I am new to all this forum stuff so I don't know your story with this mare but I am assuming that she has not long been back in work etc. I think you should persever with her if she is capable of the things that you mention. My eventer hates schooling and delights in getting his tongue over the bit and peeing off with me in the school. He is far too big to argue with so we now school while we are hacking and it works a treat as he is currently working at medium level.
It will take time for her body and brain to adjust back to being a riding horse rather than a mummy, don't give yourself a hard time about it, its natural!
 
How long is it since you weaned Troy? Maybe because you have upped the intensity of the work and she hasn't used those muscles for a long time she gets tight or sore. You could try a supplement, but is she actually coming into season at the moment?
 
Bloomin horses eh?

I honestly think that this unseasonably warm weather is contributing to bad behaviour. I'm sure they can smell the grass starting to grow and it's sending them a bit doolally. Whenever they start to molt always seems to be a bad time! Haj is being a total nightmare at the moment and even Ged is on his toes. They're such sensitive creatures and I know I've been feeling a bit giddy and well in myself with the sunshine and warmth!

I'm sure with the oestress, a more varied work regime and when they get used to it being spring she'll settle down and be a bit more cooperative.

Glad to hear you've got some lessons sorted. I forgot about David - he's a nice guy and though I've never seen him teach I've heard good things.
 
Sounds to me like she just needs more variation, how many schooling sessions is she getting a week? I do no more than two in the school and possibly one lungeing, it sounds like she may be spending a lot of time in the school and could be coming stale?
 
She is spending a lot of time in the school because I have been trying to sort out some of her issues, and we are getting there ever so slightly. Although the argument is still there, it lasts a little less time and she is coming back more easily.

I have a lesson on Monday with David so will keep you all filled in...

She has been working in a KK but I am very tempted to put her Myler back in for a while and see whether that makes any difference. She seems better when you swap and change the bit...

She had her back done yesterday and there was some tension, but not really a massive amount and not enough to warrant the behaviour we are getting. She is just damned argumentive.

We went out today and she was a complete monster competing... but took her back in the warm up once we had done the test and she was doing some lovely half pass and shoulder in, grrrr!!!
 
I had a lovely event mare who ended up having 18 months off due to injury. After 3 months of trying to bring her back into work, with her throwing a strop every night, I gave up. She would almost have a panic attack, hyperventilating and got so wound up. One day she went over on top of me and we went through the sand school fence. I never got back on her. She is now a recipient mare at a Stud and is in foal. Best thing I could do with her as it was clear she did not want to do anything other than be a lady of leisure any more!
 
Oh she gets out of the school once a week (this week is the first week she hasn't because of other commitments away from the horses
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) at the moment being hacked out for over an hour (with a lot of hills etc), but I would like to get her out twice and jumped once... so that would mean the week consists of two days hacking, one day competing, one day jumping, two days schooling and one day off
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Obviously when I have lessons I would probably just hack the one day as I like to give mine a day off after lessons or competing.
 
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